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Some foods are simply better for you than others are. You don't have to be a nutritionist to recognize that processed foods providing nothing but empty calories are not nearly as healthy as fresh organic fruits and vegetables. However, among the healthy foods, knowing which ones are healthiest for you can be a bit of a conundrum. Each healthy food contains a variety of nutrients you need to maintain a healthier lifestyle.
List of the Healthiest Foods in the World
Most fresh fruits and vegetables are healthy, but ones tend with a bright color of red, blue or purple contain cancer fighting phytonutrients and are powerful antioxidants. You'll find that blueberries, carrots, winter squash, bell peppers, kale, acai, blackberries and strawberries fit into this category.
If you want a multivitamin provided by Mother Nature, you can choose from the various sources of each vitamin. For instance, foods high in vitamin C are citrus fruits, kiwifruit, strawberries, tomatoes potatoes, sweet peppers, broccoli and cantaloupe.
If you want to insure that you have adequate vitamin A, include milk, eggs, carrots, sweet potato, kale, pumpkins, cantaloupe, peaches, apricots, mangos and papayas into your diet. You'll also find that liver is a rich source of vit. A.
Many people have deficiencies of Vitamin D, even though it should be the most plentiful. Your body manufactures vitamin D from the sunlight on your skin. Northern climates with limited sun in certain seasons and the introduction of sun block into many skin care products are reasons for the shortage. In order to improve your level of vitamin D, try cod liver oil, krill oil and egg yolk. You'll find vitamin E in most foods but particularly high sources are in whole grain products, wheat germ and avocados.
While red meat is often considered an unhealthy food, there's evidence that red meat and animal products from free range organically raised animals are quite beneficial for your health. Red meat, along with fish, poultry, milk, eggs and cheese contains vitamin B 12 but free range animals have high amounts of conjugated linoleic acid, known as CLA. CLA is effective in fighting arteriosclerosis, lowering body fat, delaying the onset of diabetes and fighting cancer.
The World's Healthiest Foods for Your Nerves
For healthy nerve and brain function you need to have an adequate amount of vitamin B6. Foods high in that vitamin are beans seeds, nuts, spinach, animal products and spinach. You also need thiamin, vitamin B1. You'll find that dried beans, whole grains and wheat germ are wonderful sources.
The World's Healthiest Foods for Your Skin
For healthy looking skin, niacin is vital. You'll find niacin, vitamin B3, in peanuts, red meat and fish. Riboflavin, B2, is necessary for good vision and producing red blood cells. Green leafy vegetables, broccoli and asparagus are healthy choices for both B2 and folate, B9.
You can increase the nutritional value of any food by simply seasoning the food with herbs and spices. Turmeric, a popular spice used in Indian cuisine offers multiple benefits from fighting cataracts to preventing Alzheimer's disease. Basil is a powerful antioxidant and parsley provides an additional source of vitamin A and C.
